Taverna Agora is offering specials for Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week. | Photo by RALtoday
The Triangle is the perfect place to experience the world through international cuisine — no airplane required. We’ve compiled a list of local restaurants and food vendors representing 10 global regions so you can try your first Nepalese dishor pick up ingredients for that Ethiopian recipeyou’ve been planning.
South and Central America and Caribbean
Golden Krust | Caribbean restaurant | Prepare to do your happy dance. City Editor Danyale suggests the brown stewed chicken with double rice + peas.
British Isles
Hibernian Irish Pub |Irish pub | Stop by for brunch, lunch, or dinner any day of the week and take advantage of the patio views.
Mediterranean and Turkey
Taverna Agora | Mediterranean rooftop bar and restaurant | Celebrate 20 years of this eatery on its lush rooftop patio.
Middle East
Al Baraka Market | Mediterranean market and grill | This one stop shop includes a market, grill, and bakery.
Asia
Cheeni | Indian restaurant | This eatery is headed by two-time James Beard Award semifinalist Chef Preeti Waas and serves homestyle meals rooted in Indian cuisine.
Oregon’s Next Generation Wine Tasting | 6-7:30 p.m. | Westgate Wine Bar | $23+ | Take a taste tour through curated wines from new generation wine makers in Oregon.
Music Bingo Tuesdays | 7-9 p.m. | Ponysaurus Brewing Co. | Free | You’ll be shouting bingo all night at this fun brewery.
Tuesday Night Trivia | 7:30 p.m. | Morgan Street Food Hall | Free | Grab a bite from one of your favorite food hall vendors and participate in trivia with a new theme every week.
Wednesday, May 21
Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand | 4-7 p.m. | Raleigh City Farm | Price of purchase | Get produce like strawberries, tomato bouquets, blueberries, and more at this local seasonal market.
1985 Dinner | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Irregardless | $75 | Dine like it’s 1985 at a Raleigh fixture with a three-course, prix-fixe dinner.
Thursday, May 22
Animazement 2025 | Through Sunday, May 25 | 6-5 p.m. | Raleigh Convention Center | $70+ | Mingle with fellow Japanese animation and culture appreciators at this three-day event.
Blooms & Bubbles: A Flower Design Workshop | 6-7:30 p.m. | Atlantic Gardening | $130 | Southern Picnics and Fleur La La are teaching a hands-on, in-depth class on how to create an arrangement of your floral dreams — plus enjoy a Prosecco spritz.
After 10 years of lululemon’s iconic yoga pant, meet the new version
Presented by The Buy
Graphic by 6AM City
Fun fact: It’s been 10 years since the Align™ pant was released — lululemon’s buttery-soft, functional yoga pant that’s amassed many a devoted fan.
Extra fun fact: In honor of the anniversary, lululemon just dropped lululemon Align No Line™, which has everything great about the original, just no front-rise seam.
Plans for the downtown Omni Hotel have moved forward with the filing of site plans. The $300 million tower will feature 27 stories, 553 rooms, and is expected to open in 2027. Additional features include a rooftop pool, a sports bar, and a convention space will come after the hotel’s initial opening. (Triangle Business Journal)
Sports
The Canes are continuing their stride to the ultimate goal of bringing home the Stanley Cup. There’s still time to grab tickets and catch the next few Canes’ games, including the match against the Florida Panthers tonight.
Try This
This year’s Live After 5 kicks off tomorrow, May 21 in City Plaza on Fayetteville Street from 6 to 9 p.m. Expect performances from Weekend Excursion and Tre. Charles, food + beverages from nine vendors, including Empire Eats and Wye Hill, and the chance to shop local vendors like Needle & Thread Co.
Concert
Grammy award-winning singer Billie Eilish is bringing her “Hit Me Soft and Hard” tour to the Lenovo Center on Oct. 16 + 17, and tickets go on sale today at noon. Expect Eilish to perform songs from her latest album and other hits like “What Was I Made For?”
Today Is
National Rescue Dog Day. Wake County Animal Center is celebrating with $25 adoptions for dogs in the shelter over two weeks and “name your price” for cats. Check out the adoption gallery and meet some of the 170+ animals available. Maybe you’ll find your furever friend.
Biz
Gateway Plaza is experiencing a revival as local businesses like Escazú, Fiction Kitchen, and Mala Pata have recently relocated there. These entrepreneurs are seeking resilience through collaboration, shared resources, and clustering while creating a hub rooted in community and adaptability. (INDY Week)
Edu
Five new charter schools are eyeing Wake County in hopes of opening in 2026 or 2027. Proposed models include arts, virtual, and hands-on learning models. Supporters highlight parental choice, while others express concerns about potential impacts on public school enrollment and funding. Read more here. (The News & Observer)
Transit
GoRaleigh is ditching its cloth bus seats for easy-to-clean vinyl, aiming to revamp 85 buses by summer. The $8,000-per-bus makeover is part of a broader push for cleaner, comfier commutes. Need help navigating? Our bus guide is here to help. (The News & Observer)
Ranked
The sweet smell of victory. Raleigh ranked fifth among the best-smelling US cities thanks to top-tier air quality. A study by Cabo Villa Vegas Dave scored cities on air quality and bakery and perfume store density, giving Raleigh 45/100 — we have perfect air, but fewer scent-producing businesses like bakeries and perfume shops.
Real Estate
Looking for a progressive office space that optimizes work-life balance? Perimeter Park not only has sleek, updated offices, but also amenities like over seven miles of walking trails, a putting green, and an expansive outdoor area to work in the sunshine. Take a virtual tour.*
Calling all business owners and hiring managers — we’re growing our RALtoday Job Board, which means you can post unlimited job listings for free. No tricks or gimmicks — simply create an account and start posting.
Apex is less than 20 minutes from Raleigh. | Photo via Town of Apex
Cary and Apex have landed top spots on U.S. News & World Report’s 2025–2026 Best Places to Live list, ranking No. 5 and No. 7, respectively, out of more than 850 cities evaluated nationwide.
The rankings considered quality of life, value, job market, and desirability, with Cary excelling in desirability and Apex earning praise for affordability. Both towns also benefit from their location and close proximity to Raleigh and Durham. Cary is sweeping in awards this year — Downtown Cary Park recently ranked No. 1 on USA Today’s Best Public Playground list.
This year, U.S. News expanded its methodology to include more cities and factored in state-level infrastructure and economic data, offering a deeper look into what makes a place truly livable. With small-town charm, access to big-city amenities, and top scores across the board, Cary and Apex continue to stand out as ideal places to call home.
The Buy
One of our favorite trends of the summer: textured handbags. From straw to beaded, these are our top five picks:
🌟 This standout wood bead bracelet handle bag is the perfect accessory for your beach vacation.
🌟 This versatile braided tote made with 70% recycled plastic is available in 35+ colors.
🌟 MANGO’s woven canvas crossbody with smooth faux leather detailing offers fun textural interplay.
🌟 This crescent straw bag with an adjustable shoulder strap will be our go-to all summer long.
🌟 An elegant rope clutch is a must for summertime weddings and cocktail parties.
Good morning, Raleigh. After a long, stressful week, I made time for joy and visited the ZincHouse Winery & Brewery in Durham for the first time. The views were gorgeous, I counted at least six food trucks, and the wine selection was expansive. Pro tip: Sometimes self-care looks like planned time for joy. Bonus points if it involves basking in the sun.
My favorite part of the day included the prosecco and fries.
Photo by RALtoday
Answered
Answered
What is the estimated chance of a major storm hitting the East Coast during the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season?
The answer is 26%. Hurricane season may bring more storms, with a 26% chance of a major storm hitting the East Coast.
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